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Ronaldo Demands Lifetime Bans for Jota Chants Against Neves
Confirmed
In Short: Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the name of his late teammate Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match, according to reports.
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the name of his late teammate Diogo Jota at Ruben Neves during a Saudi Pro League match, according to reports. The chants, which appeared to target Neves, occurred during a game between Al-Taawoun and Al-Hilal in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and was a Portugal teammate of both Jota and Neves, said, 'The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behavior,' in a statement to Al Jazeera. Neves, who was a pallbearer at Jota's funeral, responded sarcastically to the chants, pointing to the sky and looking towards the fans.
The incident has drawn attention to the sensitive nature of the situation, as Jota died in a car crash in Spain in July 2025, and Neves was a close friend of the late player. Ronaldo, who played with both players for the national team, has been vocal about the need for strict action against the fans involved.
In response to an Instagram post showing the footage, Ronaldo commented from his personal account, expressing his disappointment with the fans' behavior. Neves, after the match, told reporters, 'I just hope they don’t go to pray later after what they did.
What's confirmed
- “The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” said Ronaldo.
What's still developing
- Footage filmed from the stands during the match and circulated on social media appeared to show supporters chanting “Jota”.
- The shouts attracted the attention of Neves, who pointed to his eye and then up to the sky in response.